In particular:

• A government department in Australia, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States, corresponds to a ministry in other systems:
• Department (Australian government)
• Department (Swiss government)
• Departments of the United Kingdom Government
• Department (US government)

• Department (country subdivision)- a geographical and administrative division within a country.
• Part of an institution such as a commercial company (see departmentalization) or a non-profit organization such as a university.
• Academic department

• A department store is a retail store that includes many specialized departments such as clothing or household items.
• Part of a state or municipal government:
• Fire department
• Police department

• In the US military:
• "Department" is a term used by the U.S. Army, mostly prior to World War I.
• A naval Department is a section devoted to one of several major tasks.

• In the magazine context:
• Articles, essays and columns that follow a certain consistency under one topic.